Last updated November 2026
The Mt Nimrod Track is a loop through Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve on the eastern side of the Hunters Hills, about 31 km from Timaru, with great views out to the coast and a waterfall that plummets through a rock arch.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) grades it as an advanced tramping track, a 3 km loop of 2 to 3 hours.
The track is steep and uneven in places and includes a ford of Nimrod Stream, and DOC says it may not be suitable for some people. Dogs are not allowed, and hunters may be present from 1 May to 30 September.
Track Facts
Tracks can close at short notice for slips, storm damage or maintenance. Check DOC's current alerts for Mt Nimrod Track on the day you walk.
Current alerts on DOC
Visiting Mt Nimrod Track: The Essentials
- Start
- Campground and car park, Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve, via Mt Nimrod Road
- Distance from the city
- About 31 km from Timaru
- Walking time
- 2–3 hrs
- Track length
- 3 km loop
- Grade
- Advanced tramping track
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Track type
- Tramping track
- Managed by
- Department of Conservation
- Status
- Check DOC’s Mt Nimrod Track page for alerts before you go.
- Track markers
- On marked bush tracks, DOC and most councils use orange triangles for the walking route. Triangles or tape in other colours, usually pink or blue, mark pest-control lines and traps. They can lead off the track, so don’t follow them.
About Mt Nimrod Track
From the campground, cross the bridge over Nimrod Stream and follow the loop anti-clockwise. It climbs steeply out of the forest to a lookout with good views out to the coast.
The track then drops sharply to Nimrod Stream, which has to be forded. A short detour upstream, over slippery rocks, leads to a pretty 15 m waterfall cascading through a small rock arch.
From the waterfall the track climbs again to rocky knolls with great views over the reserve to the coast, then drops back through the forest to the car park.
DOC notes the area was recognised for its birdlife as early as 1891. Burning, logging and grazing changed the original forest, and the area was gazetted as a scenic reserve in 1932. The reserve spreads over the deep gorges of Nimrod Stream and White Rock River.
Track Conditions and Safety
The track is steep and uneven in places. Take care fording Nimrod Stream and on the slippery rocks near the waterfall. Hunters may be present in the reserve from 1 May to 30 September. Check DOC before you go, use Plan My Walk, and tell someone your plans.
A separate Hunter Hills Conservation Area track branches off the reserve track, with a 5 km easement giving access to the wider conservation area, including Mt Nimrod.
Camping at Mt Nimrod
The track starts at DOC’s Mt Nimrod Campsite, a small Standard campsite with 10 non-powered and tent sites, reached by car, campervan or caravan.
Facilities are basic: non-flush toilets, a tap with untreated water that you need to boil before drinking, and a fire pit you can use for campfires except when a fire ban is in place. There is no power and there are no showers, and dogs are not allowed.
All sites must be booked online through DOC before you arrive, and DOC keeps no spaces for campers without a booking; same-day online bookings are possible until 8pm if sites are left.
Adults pay $10 a night and children (5 to 17) $5, infants stay free, and the DOC Campsite Pass is accepted if you book online first. Booking by phone or at a visitor centre adds a $10 service fee.
Getting There
DOC places the reserve 32 km south-west of Timaru and 43 km north-west of Waimate. From Timaru, follow State Highway 1 south for about 10 km and turn right onto Pareora River Road. Follow it 16 km past the Pareora Hut settlement onto Pareora Gorge Road.
After 5 km turn left onto Limestone Road, then onto Motukaika Road for 11 km, then right at the T-junction onto Back Line Road. After 2 km, turn left into Mt Nimrod Road and follow the DOC signs straight into the reserve. Do not turn left, as that is the private driveway for Mt Nimrod farm.
Useful Links
Department of Conservation: Mt Nimrod Track: track information, alerts and status. Track information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Plan My Walk (NZ Mountain Safety Council): plan your trip, check gear and share your intentions.
Department of Conservation: Mt Nimrod Campsite: campsite information, alerts and bookings. Campsite information: Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Your Questions Answered
How long is the Mt Nimrod Track?
DOC gives a 3 km loop taking 2 to 3 hours.
How hard is it?
DOC grades it as an advanced tramping track. It is steep and uneven in places and includes a stream ford.
Is there a waterfall?
Yes. A short detour upstream from the ford leads to a 15 m waterfall cascading through a small rock arch.
Which way should I walk the loop?
Anti-clockwise, crossing the bridge over Nimrod Stream from the campground.
Can I camp at the start of the track?
Yes. DOC’s Mt Nimrod Campsite has 10 non-powered and tent sites, and you must book online before you arrive. Adults pay $10 a night and children $5.
Can I take my dog?
No. Dogs are not allowed.
Are there hunters in the reserve?
DOC says hunters may be present between 1 May and 30 September.
How do I get there?
Via Pareora River Road, Pareora Gorge Road, Limestone, Motukaika and Back Line roads to Mt Nimrod Road, about 32 km south-west of Timaru.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Track Facts: Track facts and line: Crown Copyright, Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai 2026, CC BY 4.0. Elevation: LINZ (LiDAR), CC BY 4.0.